Bookbinding.



E. R. RICHARDS.

BOOKBINDlNG.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1.1917.

Patented Jul 31, 1917.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNST R. RICHARDS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO SEARS, ROEBUCK AND COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

BOOKBINDING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 31, 1917.

Application filed March 1, 1917. Serial No. 151,622.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNST R. RICHARDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bookbinding, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved book binding which is particularly adapted for large catalogues, telephone directories and like books. To be practical, such a binding must be capable of being produced rapidly and cheaply, and at the same time it must be strong and durable, so as effectually to prevent leaves from becoming loose. Usually, catalogues are equipped only with a paper backing and the rear or binding edge of the book is flex ible, so that when the book opens the glue 1s very likely to crack and eventually crumble to pieces and allow the leaves to fall out. My improved binding provides an approximately rigid attachment for the leaves, so that the opening of the book will not crack the glue, and the durability of the book is thereby greatly increased. The blndlng is also cheap and may be very rapidly produced.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an end view showing in open position a book which is bound in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view through the back of the book in closed position. Fig. 3 is a view looking down on Fig. 2 and showing the parts broken away to reveal successive parts therebeneath.

The leaves of the book are indicated by the reference numeral 5, and are preferably separate and independent of each other. When the book is closed, the binding edge of the body of leaves is in a plane, as shown in Fig. 2. To the binding edge of the leaves is fixed a strip of suitable fabric 6, by means of a film a of glue. The fabric 6 overlaps the sides of the body of leaves, as shown in Fig. 2. A strip 7, which is preferably of cardboard and is relatively rigid, is secured to the fabric 6 by afilm b of glue, and the leaves, fabric and stiffening strip are inclosed in a flexible backing 8 which may be an integral sheet of paper preferably of stiffer character than the leaves 5, the backingbeing suitably glued (as at c) to the stifiening strip and to the edge portions of the fabric 6. The portions of the backing 8 which lie alongside the body of leaves constitute the covers of the book.

The stiffening strip 7 provides a comparatively rigid base for the leaves so that there is substantially no relative movement between the bound edges of the leaves in opening the book, whether the book is held in the hand or lies upon a support. The stiffening strip 7 prevents the back from flexing to such an extent that the glue will crack or crumble and still the user can bend the back slightly, if necessary, in order to read printed matter extending close to the back.

My improved binding is to be carefully distinguished from a binding a in which stitches, strings or other fastening devices of that nature are employed. My binding is especially adapted for cheap books and is also particularly suitable for books in which the leaves are separate and independent from each other as distinguished from leaves in connected groups or signatures. Any attempt to sew or similarly fix the leaves to the backing raises the cost of the book to a prohibitive point for use on catalogues or the like. My improved binding provides a very strong and durable book without the employment of anything in the nature of stitching.

I claim as my invention:

A book comprising a body consisting of a plurality of separate and independent leaves, a strip of fabric, adhesive means attaching said strip of fabric to one edge of the body andto one edge of each leaf, whereby the binding edges of the leaves are united, a backing strip, adhesive means attaching said backing strip to the outer face of said fabric, said backing strip possessng sufiieient flexibility to permit slight flexmg of the back when the book is opened but not enough to cause separation of the leaves at the binding edge when the book is opened, a cover formed of flexible material and having side portions extending over the opposite sides of the body of leaves, and adhesive means attaching the midportion of said cover to the outerface of said backing strip.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

ERNST R. RICHARDS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

